Heinz upgrades loading bay systems

Heinz has upgraded its loading bay safety systems at its facility in Kitt Green, near Wigan. It has acquired a new Thorworld Industries dock leveller and platform.

“We always put safety first at the Kitt Green facility, so to ensure our equipment was completely up-to-date, we started to research a new loading bay solution that would provide an even safer way for powered pallet trucks (PPTs) and their operators to access the rear of vehicles delivering dry and chilled ingredients,” said Graham Hollinghurst, project manager at the Kraft Heinz Company. “We also needed a better access solution for operators to load empty stillages, so were very keen to see any options out there that were capable of meeting all of our facility’s needs.”

Thorworld created a bespoke modular scheme for shipping container access, and a maximum incline of six degrees was deployed to suit the powered pallet truck in use on site. Because of limited space, the site needed an L-shaped ramp / platform combination with appropriate turning space at the top of the ramp.

Other installations included a separate mechanism to prevent HGVs from moving during loading, as well as the installation of a ‘portal frame building’ to house the new leveller and ramp.